How to choose your pot?

A pot is one of the essential cookware in the kitchen. Choosing quality pots adapted to your needs is very important, because you will use them often. The better the tool, the easier it is to get good results! Today, there are multiple kinds of pots, made of several materials, with different surfaces, size, height, color and shape… That is why it is important for you to know the most important aspects to take into account to choose them right. Don’t worry! We have prepared a list of all the things that you should consider before you buy your pot. First of all, let’s check our quick guide!

What shape of pot is best for you?

The saucepan

The saucepan is a must-have in a kitchen for daily life. It is ideal to prepare delicious sauce, to boil water for rice, vegetables, pasta or for heating or re-heating food. This type of pot is characterized by its flat bottom, high straight sides and its single handle. The latter makes it very convenient for easy pouring with one hand.

The stock pot

Stock pot is a generic name for one of the most common types of cooking pots used all over the world. A stock pot is traditionally used to make stock or broth, the basis for cooking more elaborate recipes. It is a wide pot with a flat bottom, straight sides and a wide opening to the full diameter of the pot. It also provides two handles on both sides for easy handling and a lid with a handle on top for faster cooking. Whether batch cooking for the week ahead or special occasions with all of the family, our stockpots are a must for cooking bigger quantities of food. Their large size makes them perfect for cooking pasta and vegetables, and for preparing your homemade preserves & jams.

The stewpot

Thanks to the two side handles, the grip of a stewpot is just perfect when you prepare a lot of food. Large quantities of meat or vegetables are therefore easy-to-transport and handle. You can serve your stews or other meals directly at the table without difficulty. This kind of pot is great for stewing & braising, for soups, pasta, and boiling a lot of water. Everyone needs stewpots ! Compact & easy to serve with their 2 side handles, and ideal to steam, stew, boil & slow cook thanks to their lids! Ideal for soups, currys & stewing dishes, pastas, steam vegetables, grains …They come in all materials to get the perfect product of your needs !

The dutch oven

Rediscover the authentic flavors with enamelled cast iron “cocotte” that naturally preserves texture and taste. Among our models, you can choose between a large oval dutch oven or a round shape. With their perfect heat retention, Oval dutch ovens are ideal for cooking roast chicken or meat, for example. As for the round shape, it is made for stewing and slow cooking. Your Sunday meals have never been easier to prepare!

With smart condensation lids, they're ideal for stews, roasted or slow cooked recipes.

Special pots

Some of our pots come with a specific purpose: cook specific meals. With good depth and two side handles, discover just how Tefal shallow pots and braisers can be used as a saute pan, stewpot or oven dish. Thanks to the large diameter, cook large quantities by steaming, stewing, slow cooking, sauteing, roasting and searing. Serve from the pot and enjoy baked potatoes and creamy chicken.

Very versatile utensil, easy to handle, stir or store. It can be used as a large frying pan, a sauté pan, or a small stewpot all at the same time. It looks like a stewpot with smaller straight sides.

Special pots can be used to :

Sear, fry or sauté
Braising or stewing smaller quantities
Cook sauces in large quantities

What are the main features of a pot?

What size of pots do you need?

Do you need a saucepan? Ranging from 16 to 20cm pots are great for portions of soup, sauces, oatmeal and grains. They ensure easy clean and are especially compact. Great for small families, single people and couples. Large saucepans are very versatile. We recommend you opt for a minimum of 2 different sizes so you can switch and adapt to your needs.

As for the stock pots and other pots, 24cm up to 28cm are great for a household of 2-4 people. 30cm up to 36cm pots are great for feeding a lot of guests or a big family. Ideal for a household of 5+ people.

Choosing the right size is one of the basic pillars. Not sure which size is the right one for you? Don’t worry. We have prepared a well-arranged table which will help you estimate the size of the pot you should purchase.

Check compatibility of your pot with your hobs?

Hobs Compatibility

Not all pots are compatible with all types of hobs, it mainly depends on its material and composition. Even if most of our pots are compatible with all types of hobs including induction, please make sure before buying to check if the pot if compatible (check picto as below on website product description or packaging).

Do you prefer removable or fixed handle?

Choose between fixed or removable handle

Removable handle:

Ideal for space saving: Optimal storage
Much more than a pan: Can be cooked on STOVE, in the OVEN and stored in the FRIDGE (glass or plastic lid compatible)
The handle stays cool

Riveted stainless steel, like a Chef
Robust handling

Stay cool
Easy and safe handling

What coatings/materials do you prefer for your pot?

The advantages of nonstick pots

All of our nonstick pots and pans are ideal to cook peacefully. Moreover, non-stick pots are suitable for healthy cooking as it doesn’t require to add fat.

Made with a reinforced titanium coating, our non-stick pots are easy to use and clean for everyday cooking. They are the best allies for preparing sauces, boiling pastas, reheating stews, steaming vegetables and much more. Discover our smart features, formats and latest innovations.

The advantages of Mineralia stone effect pots

Mineralia Stone effect pots come with a non-stick coating enriched with minerals for healthy cooking; Mineralia is PFOA, lead and cadmium free.

They are compatible with all cooktops including induction. Perfect for cooking delicate ingredients, discover our Mineralia stone effect pots
Inspired by nature, our stone-effect pots are coated with the new ultra-resistant Mineralia coating, which combines strong mineral properties with durable non-stick. Create natural and healthy meals everyday, in longlasting cookware.
Because food doesn't stick to the Mineralia non-stick surface, it's great for healthy cooking with less oil. Plus, it's easy to clean!

The pros of ceramic pots

Ceramic is less non-stick than standard non-stick coatings but more resistant to scratches. That's why ceramic coating is ideal for pots. it offers more resistance against metallic spoons or whisks but remains as convenient while cooking and as easy to clean. Discover those durable pots for everyday usage!
Tefal ceramic pots offer durability while being at the same time very easy to clean. Whether you are looking for a saucepan to reheat meals quickly or a stewpot to boil or stew easily and without sticking, our pots are ideal for daily use!
As regards our healthy and eco-friendly ceramic pots, they are made from 90% mineral and 10% organic ingredients. Among other pros of ceramic, it's scratch resistant, durable and easy to clean.

The advantages of stainless steel pots

Stainless steel pots are perfect for cooking a wide range of ingredients.
Scratch resistant, robust, sturdy with no deformation over time, stainless pots are very versatile and are a must in every kitchen. Ideal to mix with hand mixers, stir with metallic spoons or whisk, they are also dishwasher safe and compatible with all hobs to be even more functional. Discover all our formats available: saucepans, stewpots and dutch ovens, stockpots...

The pros of cast iron pots

Cast iron is a great choice for stewing, roasting and slow cooking. Furthermore, our cast iron pots can go straight into the oven, and are compatible with all hobs including induction. Their interior enamelled coating
Cast iron pots retain their heat very well making it easy to serve directly at the table and keep food warm. They are designed with a highly durable, resistant & performant coating. Get perfect caramelizing, clean easily and keep as good as new thanks to the resistant matt enamel.
Cast iron pots are available in different formats adapted to all various recipes